Journal Keeping

[Anstasia]

Hi all,

If any of you are keeping a journal which allows you to systematically organize your readings and thoughts, please let me know how you've set up the structure of your journal.

I am looking for a format which allows me to be flexible, but I am one of those people who need a lot of structure. So I will appreciate your feedback.

Thanks!

[The Comedian]

I used to keep book journals, in which I'd write a review of each book that I read. I also had a fancy fountain pen that I'd use for such an occasion. . . . made me feel sort of Dickensian and fit the mood that I was aiming for.

You could also write review for LitNet -- I do that from time to time and use this very forum as a way to write my thoughts about many of the books that I read.

[stlukesguild]

I don't keep a journal anymore... although I have begun to collect my more formally written musings on art, music, and literature on a blog. I do keep notebooks or a sort in which I collect random thoughts and sketches related to my artwork. These have no real rhyme nor reason as they are essentially for my own use... a means of collecting and clarifying my thoughts without any concern... or thought of others ever reading them.

[Drkshadow03]

I keep a blog (http://beyondassumptions.wordpress.com/) where I write about every book I read and other topics on my mind.

[papayahed]

I keep a spreadsheet. I list:

the book
the author
the month and year I finished the book
# of pages
rating
where, if any the recommendation came from
a review

That way I can manipulate the data into graphs and charts to quickly see how many books I've read in a year, a month or how many by any given author. (I'm an engineer I can't help myself.)

[The Comedian]

I keep a spreadsheet. I list:

the book
the author
the month and year I finished the book
# of pages
rating
where, if any the recommendation came from
a review

That way I can manipulate the data into graphs and charts to quickly see how many books I've read in a year, a month or how many by any given author. (I'm an engineer I can't help myself.)

I imagine that this helps you present your findings at your book-club's quarterly meetings. ;)

[Dark Muse]

I currently keep all my information about my reading on goodreads. It allows to list the books on your to read list, books you have read, and books you are currently reading, as well as create endless categories of your own to organize your books.

In addition, as you read, you can post what page number you are currently on and post comments as you progress through your reading, as well as write overall reviews of your books, and there is also a place in which you can post any quotes/passages from your readings.

[papayahed]

I imagine that this helps you present your findings at your book-club's quarterly meetings. ;)


:toetap05:



:p

[Anstasia]

I have to admit that I need something like the Excel sheet, but I need to write a lot more, so the capacity of the Excel cells won't fit my style.

Do you have a journal section which allows you to uncover areas which you'd like to explore more deeply?

[Delta40]

For me, the only way to uncover areas I would like to explore more deeply is to keep my journal with me wherever I go. The technology of even the ipad is limited here. I can tear out pictures, articles etc while sitting at the hairdressers and paste them in my journal because they are interesting or inspire ideas. I often scribble overheard conversations while at a cafe or just write on a whimsy. I think the key to a good journal is to not have a preconceived idea of what it should contain and how it should be used.

[sithkittie]

I usually write in my blog about whatever I've recently read, but I don't have any set way I go about it. Name and author, of course, usually a short summary, then my thoughts. Sometimes I'll pick a theme and write on it. Sometimes I'll go with the history of when the piece was written. Sometimes I'll compare it to other things I've read that are similar or from the same era. If I'm dealing with a more complex piece I'll make notes of what I want to write about, but usually they're very simple, a word or two to remind me of something. I write partly to get myself thinking in a somewhat more structured form than just in my head and partly to help myself remember what I've read and what I was thinking about it at the time.

[papayahed]

I have to admit that I need something like the Excel sheet, but I need to write a lot more, so the capacity of the Excel cells won't fit my style.

Do you have a journal section which allows you to uncover areas which you'd like to explore more deeply?

I'm not the type to explore anything deeply, but you could probably have a main page for short reviews with links to longer reviews on separate pages, depending on how many books you read. The excel cells can be as large as you want them to be or you could merge a few together if it fits the space better. If you want I might be able to work something up as I love excel.

[Anstasia]

The excel cells can be as large as you want them to be or you could merge a few together if it fits the space better. If you want I might be able to work something up as I love excel.

SO kind of you! But I first want to double-check how your excel works because mine definitely has a world limit. I have not counted how many characters it could take, but it's definitely limited. I do not think that I could write more than 2 longish paragraphs. Please let me know.

skittie, d40--I will most likely add another section to my journal--similar to yours--with random thoughts, etc. because i agree that not all entries should be directed and focused. But i do no need to see the big picture and I need structure. otherwise, i feel lost and confused and the random entries drive me crazy. Poor me! :confused5

[Anstasia]

i saw a thread at some point on Susan Wise Bauer's _THe Well-Educated Mind_. She suggests a way to keep a journal. Has anyone tried what she suggests? I do not think it works for me, but I'd like to know if anyone has managed to adapt it to their needs, and of course, I'd be curious to know how it was adjusted. Thanks.